Ch 2 – A Legacy of Prayer, A Life of Purpose

March 9, 2026

Next year marks an important milestone in the history of The Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship – we celebrate our 175th anniversary. Discover how a prayer meeting started in London by a Scottish barrister caught the imagination of Christian lawyers in the UK.

The Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship was established 174 years ago on 9 February 1852 by Mr John MacGregor, founded under the name the “Lawyers’ Prayer Union”. It was initially a monthly prayer meeting for legal professionals who wanted to “unite their private prayers for the Divine Blessing upon all connected with the profession”.1

The Lawyers’ Prayer Union gathered every first Monday of the month for prayers and reading of the Holy Scripture. This day was chosen as it was the day “appointed for private prayer by the rules of the Lawyers’ Prayer Union”.2

This monthly meeting was first held in London, at 7 Sergeant’s Inn, Fleet Street in 1865 and St. George’s Church Bloomsbury in 1875 and Parlour in Exeter Hall in the early 1900s. Within the first 50 years, the Union had already expanded across the country, with its monthly gathering held outside of London in Bristol at Marsh-street-chambers (1889).3  Meanwhile, the members of the Union increased rapidly, seeing 225 members in 1889.4  Members were present across the country, from as north as York and Scarborough to as south as Weymouth and the Isle of Wight.

Apart from the monthly meeting, the Union also held an annual social gathering from its establishment, through to 1875. In 1875, for example, the social gathering was held at Doughty Hall, Bedford Row.5  The social meeting entailed refreshments, followed by praise and prayers, and addresses from the Chairman of the Union and the Chief Clerk at Mansion House, on the topic of “law of sin and death through our first parents” and “law of life and liberty and love through Jesus”, and with an appeal for the “unconverted to decide at once for Christ” respectively.

While the Union started out as a private monthly prayer meeting, they did not shy away from practicing their faith publicly. Starting in 1870, the Union also held half-year public devotional meetings at Mission
Hall, St George’s Bloomsbury. Many prominent lawyers, including the late Earl Cairns (who served as the Lord Chancellor in 1868, and between 1874 to 1880), Lord Chief Baron Pigott and Lord Justice Lush, attended these public devotional meetings.6  The meeting was presided by a judge or some well-known practitioner. Throughout the years, the meeting had once been presided by Douglas QC (who was in place of the Lord Chancellor),7 Bompes QC,8 Hon Mr Bason,9 Mr Archibald, among other people.

These meetings often involved addresses from certain members on different aspects of faith, including the necessity of firm belief in God’s words and the power of prayer10 and “God’s covenant with his people”.11 Through these public devotional meetings, “[t]he members practically agree to remember each other, and strengthen themselves by prayer at stated periods during the year”.12 These efforts of uniting prayers of Christian lawyers echoed a remark by the late Earl Cairns that “Christianity would be very much the gainer through professional unity in prayer”.13

Even in the early years of the Lawyers’ Prayer Union, members were passionate in offering support
and encouragement to like-minded young Christians. For instance, in September 1890, representatives from the Union gave a 5-minute address at the Conference of Young Men’s Christian Association in Birmingham.14 In June of the following year, a Mr WR Moore represented the Union in attending a conference for young people “engaged in Civil Services and professional and commercial pursuit”.15 Mr Moore, along with representatives from the Medical Prayer Union, led the discussion on the importance of individual work.

Over the last 174 years, the Union had experienced a tremendous transformation and developed from a Prayer Union in the UK to a Christian Fellowship with partnerships across the continents. However, what remains unchanged is the Fellowship’s commitment to prayer, to “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8), and to appreciate God’s steadfast love and grace bestowed upon the Fellowship. May we continue to count our blessings as we reflect on our history and look forward to future service together.

1 Hodder,Edwin. John MacGregor(‘Rob Roy’). 3rd. Ed. London: Hodder Brothers, 1894, p.111.
2 Liverpool Echo 16 October 1889, “Lawyers at Prayer”.
3 Liverpool Echo 16 October 1889, “Lawyers at Prayer”. An announcement for the change of address of a solicitor was followed by a notice of changing meeting point for the Lawyers’ Prayer Meeting.
4 Liverpool Echo 16 October 1889, “Lawyers at Prayer”.
5 South London Press 25 December 1875 page 5, “Lawyers Prayer Meeting”. British Newspaper Archive and the British Library
6 Witness (Belfast) 15 November 1889 page 2, “the Lawyers Prayer Union”.
7 The Graphics 28 December 1878 page 658.
8 Islington Gazette 18 December 1883 page 4, “The Lawyers Prayer Union”. British Newspaper Archive and the British Library
9 East & South Devon Advertiser 27 June 1885. British Newspaper Archive and the British Library
10 The Graphics 28 December 1878 page 658.
11 The Methodist Times 21 June 1888 page 432, “Lawyers Prayer Union”. British Newspaper Archive and the British Library
12 Witness (Belfast) 15 November 1889 page 2 “the Lawyers Prayer Union”
15 November 1889. British Newspaper Archive and the British Library
13 The Devon and Exeter Daily Gazette 24 June 1891 page 8, “Sir John Kennaway MP At Exeter Hall”.
14 Wester Daily Press 25 September 1890 “Young Men’s Christian Association”.
15 The Devon and Exeter Daily Gazette 24 June 1891 page 8, “Sir John Kennaway MP At Exeter Hall”.